Corporate
Academy is a three year program only currently offered to students at Campo
Verde High School. It is designed for students interested in learning
about the business world and is taught by an instructor with a
bachelor's degree in business and real-life experience working in the
corporate world. It is an ideal academic path for students who think
they may study business in college or students who simply wish to learn
about the business world in order to gain the tools for success in any
career field!

This
course will explore the principles of the corporate and business world.
Students will engage in discussion and project-based learning in order
to gain an understanding of the business world.

Topics will
include: Workplace norms, trends, dress-for-work, business
communications, proper technology use and introduction to the corporate
structure, Students will choose a fortune 500 company to investigate and
report on in order to bring class discussions and topics to life in a
real-world way. Relevant guest speakers and field tours will also be
included.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate
in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) a student orientated
professional association.

Year 2 - Build Your Own Business:

This course will provide an understanding of the inner-workings of a business or corporation.

Investigative
based learning will guide students as they explore and discuss the
following topics: entrepreneurship, financing a new business, principles
of management and human resources including interviewing, logistics,
operations and supply chain.

Students will
experience the nature of a small business, determine potential as an
entrepreneur, and develop an original business plan. Relevant guest
speakers will be included as well. Students are strongly encouraged to
participate in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) a student
orientated professional association.

*This course earns honors credit and may be taken for dual credit.

Year 3 - Advertising Strategies and Economics

This
will provide an understanding of business marketing, advertising,
branding, and PR as it relates to the current business world. Students
will discover, analyze and develop marketing strategies ranging from
small business to large corporations. The principles of business
economics will be addressed such as supply, demand, forms of business
competition and the various functions of buyers and sellers in the
marketplace. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in Future
Business Leaders of America (FBLA), a student orientated professional
association. This course will meet district graduation requirements for
Economics upon completion of the entire year and taking the district
marketing / econ CRE test. This course will not meet the NCAA requirements for Social Studies (applies to students who will receive an athletics scholarsip via NCAA).

* This course may be taken for dual credit.

Program Mission Statement:

Corporate
Academy @ Campo is committed to providing business-minded students with
career focused skills. Corporate Academy students will encounter a
variety of rich experiences they can use to be successful and
significant in college, career and life. Students can expect real-life
based learning with project and discovery based instruction,
enlightening guest speakers and tours of businesses and corporations.

Program Vision:

We are committed to:

- Instilling curiosity and integrity

- Promoting the value of lifelong learning

- Cultivating mindful and responsible leaders of the future

- Creating community ties that bridge the gap between the educational environment and real-life

About the instructor:
Ashley
McLaren is currently in her seventh year as a business and technology
teacher with Gilbert Public Schools. Previous to teaching, Mrs. McLaren
worked in the business world in the corporate meeting and event planning
division in one of the largest resorts in Arizona. She holds a
Bachelors of Science in Business Management from the W. P. Carey School
of Business at Arizona State University with a minor in Sociology of
Adolescents.

Since obtaining a Masters degree in
education from ASU, Mrs. McLaren has taught several different business
courses with the district such as Personal Finance, Marketing, and two
different computer and technology courses. She also assists with
coaching the cheerleading program on campus and enjoys interacting with
her students at school events. Mrs. McLaren is thrilled to be a part of
Corporate Academy @ Campo!